Top European Union officials expressed surprise on Tuesday following Serbia’s grand funeral for Ratko Mladic, a Bosnian Serb general who passed away while serving a life sentence for war crimes. The burial in Belgrade was conducted with military honors, overseen by Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church, with Serbian army soldiers carrying Mladic’s coffin draped in a flag.
Despite Mladic’s notorious reputation as the “Butcher of Bosnia” and his conviction for genocide, many Serbs still regard him as a hero. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa condemned the official support and attendance of senior Serbian officials at the funeral, citing it as a failure to address Europe’s dark past.
While Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did not attend the funeral, his son Danilo was present, alongside other notable figures like Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodik and the Russian ambassador in Serbia. Serbia’s Justice Minister Nenad Vujic defended the funeral’s organization, emphasizing the family’s control over the proceedings.
Mladic was held accountable by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for genocide during the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo. The UK criticized Serbian officials’ involvement in the funeral, emphasizing the negative impact on reconciliation and regional stability in the Western Balkans.
With a looming EU enlargement report expected in the coming weeks, Serbia’s EU membership bid faces scrutiny. Vucic, navigating between pleasing Mladic supporters and aligning with the EU, described the funeral as an emotional event. The EU Enlargement Commissioner previously warned that the glorification of Mladic’s death would challenge Serbia’s path to EU accession.
The EU report typically evaluates candidate countries’ progress towards membership, highlighting deficiencies. Von der Leyen’s upcoming tour of the Western Balkans just before the report’s release underscores the significance of Serbia’s actions. The funeral’s glorification could further hinder Serbia’s EU prospects, which were already marred by democratic concerns and potential fund losses.